Volleyball

Volleyball Unable to Fight Off Sacramento State

Oct 22, 2009

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Northern
Arizona women’s volleyball outhit Sacramento State .235 to
.222, but the Lumberjacks were unable to translate the stat line to
the scoreboard falling to the Hornets 3-1 at Rolle Activity Center
on Thursday. NAU was defeated by scores of 25-21, 24-26, 25-22, and
25-23

NAU (6-12, 3-6 BSC) held leads in each set, but Sacramento State
(14-10, 5-4 BSC) showed its experience battling back on the road
and outplaying the Lumberjacks in the latter stages of each
set.

“It is part of growing up,” said head coach Craig
Choate. “I don’t think that will happen next year.
Sacramento State just played a little bit better. It’s not
like it wasn’t tight. We haven’t gotten to the point
where we do fundamental skills out of habit.”

The Lumberjacks had brilliant performances across the board
starting with sophomore Kobi Christensen and freshman Kelli
Dallmann. Christensen recorded a team high 15 kills hitting .300
for the match while Dallmann posted a double-double with 21 assist
and 13 kills hitting a career-high .476.

“The problem is you can’t get it done with just two
hitters,” Choate said after acknowledging the solid play of
Christensen and Dallmann. “We just had a tough night. We
passed well enough to do things, but we couldn’t finish. You
have to credit Sacramento State.”

NAU dropped a narrow first set, but answered back in the second to
even the match at 1-1.

In the pivotal third set, the Lumberjacks went up 11-3 after an
8-0 run, but Sacramento State stormed back immediately with an 11-3
run of their own to even the score at 14-14. NAU stretched its lead
on two separate occasions to three, but the Hornets answered both
times and pulled out the third set.

The Lumberjacks were also up in the fourth before Sacramento State
tied the set at 15-15 and pulled ahead for good to close the
match.

“Whenever we needed a really important point we
couldn’t get it,” Choate said. “The momentum
never went our way.”

The Lumberjacks season is far from over with seven matches
remaining on the schedule, but five will be played on the road
beginning next weekend with away matches against Weber State and
Idaho State on Fri., October 30 and Sat., October 31, respectively.